Prosecutor Richard Pratt QC told the jury Parkin had initially tried to cover for the mother of his daughter, but, as the 48-year-old realised he was dying, admitted to paramedics that McGreavy had “lost it” and stabbed him in the chest.

McGreavy said the incident happened during a row about his sexuality. Police were called to Parkin’s home at 9.20pm on 6 December after he staggered to a neighbour, covered in blood and requesting help.

Allegedly, he came out of the kitchen with a knife pointing towards his chest. She lunged forward and accidentally “bumped” the knife into his torso. The knife pierced his heart which slowly filled with blood. He died five hours later in Fazakerley hospital.

McGreavey later apologised at the police station, telling officers she had acted in self-defence. “I just flipped,” she said. “I just found out today that the father of my child is gay.”

Mr Pratt told the jury Mr Parkin initially told officers he had been attacked on Rice Lane. But as he travelled to hospital he asked the paramedic if he was going to die, and said it was his former girlfriend McGreavy who attacked him.